For contemporary audiences, the single biggest hurdle to fully enjoying a film like this is the relationship between its two leads, Fred Astaire being significantly older than Leslie Caron. Fortunately, the narrative goes to great pains to remove any sense of untowardness. Julie falls in love with Jervis sight unseen, building up in her imagination what he might be like. And only when he learns about her feelings for him --although she doesn't know it's him-- does Jervis respond in kind. All that to say, there really isn't anything predatory. And at least, this was less unsavory than similar May-December romances in Love in the Afternoon and Gigi (the latter also starring Leslie Caron). Beyond that, the film is generally enjoyable, although it takes it sweet time getting to the third act. The highlights for me were a pair of dream sequences, one focusing on Astaire and the other on Caron. Caron's extended dream sequence was a ballet that recalled similar climactic scenes in An American in Paris and The Band Wagon. Overall, this was pretty good for late Fred Astaire, classy to the end, and Leslie Caron, who met him with an equal adorability/cuteness.
Review of Daddy Long Legs
